Feed-regulator.



G. H. BARNEY.

FEED BEGULATOB. Arrmouxon rmn Dno. 17. 1807.

91 5,539. Patentea Mar. 16, 1909 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BARNEY, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKYv FEED-REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BARNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of Boyd and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feed regulators.

A feed regulator comprising my invention can be put to many advantageous uses one of which is the control of the supply of fluid to a suitable receiver.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification I show in detail one simple form of embodiment of the invention which, to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same, will be disclosed at length in the following description, while the novelty of the invention will be included in the claims suoceeding said description. In said form of embodiment of the invention thus represented the receiver may be a' steam boiler and the fiuid supplied to the furnace or oombustion chamber thereof can be of any suitable kind, for example, a gase-` enabled to maintain a uniform pressure.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam boiler' and a feed regulator involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view of the regulating mechanism and a portion of the supply or feed pipe. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of said regulating mechanism.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

I have shown in Fig. 1 a well known form of vertical steam boiler the same being denoted by 2 and being provided with a blowoff or safety valve as 3 which is set to operate at a higher pressure than a valve which erforms a similar function and which wil be hereinafter more particularly described. In the combustion or fire chamber of the furnace of the boiler a feed or supply pipe as 4 leads, and this pipe maybe utilized for the conveyance of any desirable fluid. The pipe 4 is intersected by a casing as 5 for a valve as 6, said valve being adapted to control the supspecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 17, 1907.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Serial No. 406,936.

ply of the said fluid. The valve is movable diametrically of the casing 5 and, when it extends partially across said casing, the maximum flow of the fluid will be interrupted. VVhen the valve eXtends'entirely across the casinv the supply of such fiuid by Way of the casing is wholly stopped. VVhen the feed of the fiuid to the furnace is wholly arrested by the said valve such fiuid may be supplied to the furnace chamber in a small quantity by means of the by-pass pipe 7 extending into the furnace chamber from the feed pipe 4 at a-.point outward beyond the valve casing 5 (see Fig. 1), this by-pass pipe 7 being of small diameter as compared with the feed pipe.

The regulating mechanism is shown clearly and on a large scale in Figs. 2 and 3 and it includes in its organization a casing as 8. The casing 8 is shown as involving a lower section as'9 and an upper section as 10, the latter being fitted as by a screw-threaded ljoint, in the former. The lower portion of the casing is closed by a head or plug as 11, while the upper portion is represented as closed by a plug or head as 12 represented as screw-threaded into the respective parts 9 and 10, said heads forming parts of the casing 8.

In the upper head 12 is tapped a nipple as 13 constituting a continuation of the pipe 14 connected with the to of the boiler This pipe 14, as will be c ear, is connected with the steam space or chamber of the boiler and it follows therefore that the pressure in said ipe equals that in said steam space. The lead 12 also constitutes a support for the casing 15 of the blow-off or pop valve 16 which, when closed, seats against the lower end of said casing, as indicated in Fig. 2. The valve 16 is substantially of thimble-form and it incloses a spring as 17 the up er end of which bears against the upper c osed end of the Valve, while the lower end of said spring is connected with a disk as 18 engaged by the upper end of a screw as 19 tapped through a spider as 20 fitted in the sleeve 21 threaded onto the lower end of the casing 15. The spring 17 provides the necessary power to normally hold the valve 16 closed in op osition to the pressure above said valve. he tension of the spring, as will be hereinafter set forth, can be regulated to adapt the device to particular conditions. It will be assumed that it is desired to maintain a certain pressure in the boiler. The tension of the spring 17 will be so set as to permit the opening of the valve in opposition to the spring, slightly below said pressure and, When this occurs, a piston or dia hragm hereinafter described is acted on y the steam which passes the valve 16 for eflecting the closing movement of the valve 6 hereinafter described. The head of the screw 19 is made in the form of a gear 22 meshing with the pinion 23 fastened to the lower end of a spindle as 24 eXtending through a Vertical hole in the upper head 12. This spindle is rovided at its outer end with a s uared ead as 25 which may be engaged y a wrench for the pur ose of turning the s indle 24 and there y the pinion 23. W en the pinion 23 is turned the gear 22 and consequently the screw 19 Will be simultaneously turned for the purpose of regulating the tension of the spring 17, it being clear that this result can be accomplished eXteriorly of the casing 8 that is to say, to regulate the tension of the spring of the main or pressure controlling valve, it is not necessary to separate any of the parts of the casing.

o Vl ithin the lower portion 9 of the casing I have shown as vertically reciprocative a piston as 26 the stem or rod 27 of which eXtends downward from said iston through the head 11 and is connecte by means of a link as 28 with the stem of the feed controlling valve 6. The piston 26 in the present case is spring-Controlled, such, for eX- ample, as by a spring 29 one end of which bears against the under side of the piston and the other end of which is sustained upon the head 11, the spring surrounding the upper portion of the piston rod 27. It will be assumed that su'lficient pressure has been exerted upon the valve 16 to open the same. When this takes place, the steam flows downward and acts on the piston 26 to move the latter in a corresponding direction and thereby, through the intermediate parts, move the valve 6 toward its closed position. The amount of movement of the valve 16 de ends upon the tension of the spring 17. pIf the spring 17 be set at a high tension to resist a high boiler pressure, the amount of movement of the valve 6 will, of course, be less than if the tension of the spring 17 be low. The tension of the spring 29 is lower than the minimum tension of the spring 17 As will hereinafter appear, the casing 8 has three discharge outlets for the fluid which in the present case is steam, and these outlets are located at different places in the travel of the piston 26. The casing 8 is shown as vertically disposed; this, of course, is not essential. VVhen, however, the casing is positioned vertically the outlets for steam from the casing 8, and particularly from the pressure chamber thereof, are situated at different levels. I have shown as connected With and leading from the casing 8 three pipes 30, 31, and 32 constituting suitable outlets such as those to which I have referred, for the steam from the piston chamber, the entering ends of said pipes being tapped or otherwise fitted into the portion 9 of said casing. The entering ends of said pipes, as indioated clearly in Fig. 2, are at different levels, the entering end of the pipe 30 being at the highest level, the entering end of the pipe 31 being at the next lower level, and the entering end of the pipe 32 being at the lowest level. The delivery ends of these pipes are connected with a coupling member as 33 from which a pipe as 34 leads. Each of the pipes 30, 31, and 32 is equipped with a valve as 35. By virtue of the said discharge outlets I can regulate with accuracy the movement of the valve 6. If it is desired to obtain the discharge of steam from the upper portion of the piston chamber 9 when the piston has made its minimum movement, the valves 35 in the pipes 31 and 32 will be closed. It will be assumed that the valves in said pipes 31 and 32 are closed and that the valve 35 in the pipe 30 is open and that a pressure slightly below that necessary to open the valve 16 has been reached.

.As soon as this pressure hasbeen passed or pressure has been developed suflicient to open the valve 16, the latter will be thrust downward, the steam passing the valve 16 and acting against the upper side of the piston 26 which is in alinement with said valve 16. VVhen the steam acts on the piston the latter will be thrust downward the motion continuing until the steam finds an outlet by way of the discharge pipe 30, at which point further downward movement of the piston 26 is stopped. During the downward motion of the piston 26 the valve 6 is moved correspondingly so as to arrest the flow of the fluid into the furnace chamber by way of the valve casing 5. VVhen the pressure is reduced to the desired eXtent the valve 16 is closed by the action of its spring 17 thereby relieving' downward or boiler pressure against the piston 26 and permitting the latter to be returned to its original position by the action of the spring 29. Should a greater movement of the piston 26 be desired the valve 35 in the pipe 30 will be closed, while the valve 35 in the pipe 31 will be open. Should the maximum movement of the piston be desired, the valves 35 in the pipes 30 and 31 will be closed, while the valve 35 in the pipe '32 will be opened.

On the stem of the valve 6 have shown an adjustable stop as 35, which may consist of a collar slidable on said stem and held. in its several adjusted positions by means of a screw as 36 engaging said stem. IThis stop will be set in a position to (',orrespond with the stroke of the piston 26 and, when the particular stroke of the piston is concluded, the stop will strike the upper side of the casing 5.

From the pipe 34 there projects a valved nipple 37 and said pipe 84 is equipped with a whistle as 38. By closing the valve of the nipple 37 the whistle 38 will be caused to sound on the escape of steam from the casing 8 by way of either one of the three pipes 30, 31, or 32. The whistle 38 is one convenient signal for announcing the discharge of steam from the regulating mechanism; it is not essential to provide this particular form of signal for securing the function mentioned.

From the upper side of the casing section 9 there projects a nipple 39 across which is movable a valve 40 the port of which, when the piston 26 is in its uppermost position, registers with the passage through said nippie, as indicated in Fig. 2. To the valve 40 is connected a rod 41 represented as bent, the lower and horizontal branch of said rod being suitably fixed to the piston rod 27. The nipple 39 is located. at a level above the several pipes 30, 31,' and 32, and it provides a means for effecting the discharge of steam from the casing 8 between the piston 26 and valve 16 when said piston is at its uppermost limit. As shown in Fig. 2 any steam that might be in the casing above the piston 26 can freely escape to atmosphere by way of the nipple 39, the valve 40 at this time being wideopen. As soon as the piston moves downward the valve 40, by virtue of its connection with said piston, is caused to close and the closing of said valve 40 occurs before the piston crosses the uppermost of the three pipes 30, 31, and 32, whereby the proper action of the piston is assured.

1 may, if desired and as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, provide a storage tank as 42 connected by a pipe as 43 with the valved nipple 37. This storage tank is adapted to receive any fluids of whatever Character they maybe, which may pass the said valved nipple, whereby such fiuids can be saved. The casing 8 may be provided with a valved vent pipe as 45 subserving its usual function.

I have described in detail one use to which regulating mechanism involving my invention may be put. If desired, the casing S may be located at the junction of high and low pressure ducts or pipes, the low pressure pipe being adapted to deliver fiuid into the ressure side or upper portion of the casing S.

n such a use as this the mechanism hereinbefore described will constitute a pressure regulator.

What claim is:

1. In a regulator of the type set forth, in combination, a movable regulating part and Operating means therefor comprising a casing, a piston movable in the casing, a connection between said piston and said part whereby the latter has movement to a degree corresponding to the degree of movement of the former, said casing having fluid outlets located at different places in the length of the travel of the piston, a manually operable valve controlling each fluid Outlet, said casing also having a pressure space at one side of the piston, yieidable means for regulating the amount of pressure in said-space, said pressure acting against the piston to operate the same, and means to act against the piston in opposition to such pressure.

2. In a regulator of the type set forth, in combination, a movable regulating part and Operating means therofor comprising a casing having a pressure space, a piston movable in the casing and operable by the pressure of the fluid therein, an operative connection between said piston and said part, said casing being constructed with a fluid Outlet leading from the pressure space, a valve controlling said Outlet and operable to close the same upon movement of the piston in one direction and to open the same upon the return of the piston to normal position, piston operated means for causing said valve to have such movement, and means for returning the piston to normal position after its operation by pressure.

3. n a regulator of the type set forth, in combination, a inovable regulating part, and automatic Operating means therefor comprising a casing, a piston movable in the casing, a piston rod passed throughthe end of the casing, an operative connection between said piston and rod and said regulating part, said casing having a pressure space at one side of the piston and having a fluid Outlet leading rom said pressure space, a controlling valve movabie across said Outlet and arranged to close the same during movement of the piston under pressure and to open the same during return movement of the piston to normal position, a rod connected to said piston rod and to said valve for Operating the latter from the former, and means for returning the piston to normal position after the completion of its operation by pressure.

4. In a regulator of the type set forth, in combination, a regulating part and operating means therefor, including a casing, a piston movable in the casing, a connection between the piston and said part, said casing having a pressure space at one side of the piston for containing pressure to operate the same, said casing having a fiuid inlet in said pressure space, a nipple secured to said inlet and formed as a valve seat, a valve coperating with said seat, a spring acting to hold said valve on said seat, a screw bearing, a screw threaded in said bearing for regulating the tension of said spring, a gear wheel forming the head of said screw, a spindle journaled within the casing and having an end exterior thereof, and formed for engagement by a spindle turning tool, and a second gear wheel carried on said spindle and meshing With said first named gear wheel, said gear Wheels being conned Wholly Within said pressure space.

5. In a regulator of the type set forth, in combination, a movable regulating part and Operating means therefor comprising a casing, a piston movable in the casing, a connection between said piston and said part, said easing having fiuid outlets located at different places in the length of travel of the piston and having a pressure space at one side of the piston, and means operable at will for shutting off the flow of fluid through any one outlet.

6. In a regulator of the ty e set forth, in combination, a inovable regu ating part and Operating means therefor, comprising a casing, a piston movable in the casing, a connection between said piston and said part, said casing having a fluid pressure space at one side of the piston, and also having an outlet for the fluid leading' from said pressure space, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said Outlet, said piston being operated in one direction by pressure, means acting against said pressure for returning the piston to normal position, and means for causing said valve to close said outlet during the movement of the piston by pressure and to open said outlet during the movement of the piston by said means.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing, a piston movab'le in the casing, a

plurality of pipes for the discharge of fluid, leading from the casing at different places in the length of travel of the piston, the casing having a pressure space at one side of the piston, and the pressure serving to operate the piston, means for Operating said piston in opposition to said pressure, a controlling valve carried by each of said pipes, and a discharge pipe common to and for receiving fluid from any one of the first inentioned ipes.

8. In a regulator of the type set forth in combination, a regulating part and operating means therefor including a casing, a piston movable in the casing, a connection between the piston and said part, said casing having a pressure space at one side of the piston for containing pressure to operate the same, said casing having a fluid inlet in said pressure space, a valve controlling said inlet, a spring for holding said valve normally seated, a screw bearing, a screw threaded in said bearing for regulating the tension of said spring, a gear wheel forming the head of said screw, and a gear element engaging said gear wheel to rotate the same, 'said gear element being operated from the exterior of the casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. BARNEY. Witnesses A. M. FUGEMAN, WILLIAM LAYMAN. 

